Women and Cigars in the History of Art

Women and Cigars in the History of Art

Women and cigars is not a new thing! Depicting women manufacturing, selling and smoking cigars isn’t new in the history of art, either. A 1732 print titled “The Habit of a Malayan and his Wife at Bataria” shows a couple being offered a box of cigars or tobacco by a third person. Both the man and his wife are holding cigars, and puffs of smoke are rising above their heads.

The term “habit” may refer to their habit of smoking cigars or it may refer to the garments they are wearing.

In the painting, “Angela, Femme de I’ile de Guham” by A. Villain, completed in 1839, the beautiful Angela is holding aloft a fine looking cigar.

Many French and English magazines ran images of women smoking cigars by themselves, with other women or among mixed company. Cigar smoking was often viewed as a status symbol for women especially.

A famous Currier & Ives print from 1876, marking the centennial of the Unites States, depicts world leaders of the time, and the majority of them are smoking. Queen Victoria is among them, with a wisp of smoke escaping her mouth.

If you want to celebrate women smokers depicted in the arts – hey, it’s one more reason to enjoy a premium cigar – may we suggest a few from our collection?

RyJ is a legendary brand with roots to the 19th century. The Romeo y Julieta 1875 is a stick any smoking lady could enjoy. This label celebrates nearly 140 years of fabulous cigars!

Another great option is the Carlos Toraño Cameroon 1916 which celebrates an event that occurred during one of the golden ages of cigars.

In 1916, the first Toraño arrived in Cuba from Spain. Don Santiago Toraño went on to become a major player in the Cuban cigar industry before the company fled Cuba for the Dominican Republic following the revolution.

Back in 1916, there were a lot of wonderful Cuban cigars available at low prices for both men and women to enjoy.